Mechanical baseball game



MECHANICAL BASEBALL GAME Filed July 17, 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet l glvwemtot attoznaq May 5, 1925.

H. MONALL MECHANICAL BASEBALL GAME 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 gvnwmtoc Filed July 1'7. 1922 May 5, I925. 1,536,513

H. M NALL I MECHANICAL BASEBALL GAME Filed July 17. 1922 7 Sheet SheefJ 5 III/IIIII, 1 I

gwuem roz May 5, 1925. 1,536,513

H. M C NALL MECHANICAL BASEBALL GAME Filed July 17, 1922 v Sh'et-Sht 4 x May5,1925. 1,536,513 H. MCNALL acumen. saszsm. mm

Filed July 17. 1922 "r Sheets-Sheet s ZlMmdoz 6cm nut May 5, 1925. I 1,536,513

H. M NALL MECHANICAL BASEBALL GAME Filed July 17. 1922 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 H. M NALL MECHANICAL BASEBALL GAME Filed July 17, 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 gwuemtoz Patented May 1925 UNITEDTSTATES 1,536,513 PATENT OFFICE.

. HARRY MoZN'ALL, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANICAL BASEBALL GAME.

Applicationfiled July 17,1922. Serial. N'o. 575,442.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY MoNALn, a

citizen of the United States, residing, at

Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Baseballv Games, of which the following is. a specification. i i

In carrying out the present invention it is my purpose to provide a mechanical baseballgame wherein thefigures on the'game view to hitting the same, so that the ball may be hit into the infield or outfield depicted upon the board. i

It is also my purpose to provide amechanical baseball game which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efficiency and durability, which may be readily and conveniently operated Iby those playing the game and which will embody comparatively few parts, and these so arranged and corelated as to reduce the possibility of derangement to a minimum. 1

A further object of my invention is to provide a mechanical baseball game which maybe manufactured and marketed at comparatively small cost and which will afford amusement as well as instruction in the fun-- damental principles ofthe game of baseball to those playing the game. i With the above recited objects in view, and others of a similar nature, the inven tion resides in theconstructiomcombination and arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims. p a

In the accompanying drawings: v e

Figure 1 is atop plan view of my improved baseball game.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the same.

Figure 3 is a similar view taken on below Figure 2. a

Figurea is avertical longitudinal sectional view through my apparatus.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View a plane showing the mounting of one of the figures representing a player.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional'view on the line,66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 4. C t

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view partly in elevation showing the mounting of the figure representing the pitcher.

Figure. 9 a is a vertical sectional view through Figure 8. 1

Figure. 10 is a sectional view'showing the mounting for the bat. i

Figure ll is a perspective view of one of the carriers employed for supporting the base runners. a i Figure 12 is a perspective-of the bat. Figure 13 is a perspective view of one of the elements for moving the fielders.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 1 designate vertical side walls spaced apart in parallelism, while 2' 2 indicate end other and holding the same in proper spaced relation. Arranged within the space defined by the side and endwalls and suitably secured to such Walls isua horizontal platform or board 3, and arranged below the platform or board 3. is. a horizontal board tspa'cedapart from the board 3 and secured to the side and end walls 1 and 2.

In accordance with j my invention the boards 3 and l adjacent to one of theend walls2 are formed withalining diamond.- shaped openings,.and within these openings respectively, are diamond-shaped plates5of 0 less dimensions than the dimensions of theopenings and having the edges thereof spaced apart from the walls of the openings walls Connecting the sidewalls 1"-1 to each i to provide runways or slots 6. The plates 5 are connected to each other by means of a vertical tube 7 'that extends through openings formed in the center of the plates. This tube is suitably fastened to the plates 5-5 in order to maintain the latter in proper relative positions and within the respective diamond-shaped openings in the boards.

The lower end of the tube 7 is mounted upon and fastened to the inter-connecting member of theU-shaped bracket 8 and the upper ends of the legs of the bracket 8 are fastened to the lower side of the board at." as at 9, asclearly illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The diamond-shaped slot or runway 6 in the board 3 defines theinfield of the basethe board 3, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the irawingjs, and the; board 3 is formed adjacent to. the positions indicative of first base, second base, third base and.short stop, and behind the positions, to be taken by the batter with curved slots 10, respectively, while the outfield depicted upon the upper surface of the board 3 at the position indicative of left field, center field and right field is formed with slots 1,1',.respectively; These slots 10: and 1 1 are curved slightly, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing; and a-liuerespectively with similar slots 13 formed in the lowerboard' 4;

Arranged between the boards 3- and 41 in line: witln the respective pairs of alini-ng' slots are vertical tubesl i having their outer ends mounted in the respective slots arranged in the corresponding slots in the board 2182' clearly illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. These tubes 14 are equipped with: collars" 15 adjacent to: the respective ends thereof, which. bear against the corn fronting surfaces of the boards 3 and 4 so that the tube will be maintained inproper position within the" slots; v

J ournaled. in the confronting faces ofthe boards 3' and 4 behind! the respective pairs of ali-n'ing slotsare shafts 161 and;v fastened iJCiGHC'hi shaft 16 are arms 17: suitably spaced apart and formed witlnalining slots 1-8 that receive the adjacent tube 1 1', On the lower endiof-each vertical" shaft 16.is'a crank arm 19 and connected. to. the: crank arm 19 are "rods 20, which; extend toward one end; Walt 2 and'are connected with operating rods 21 slidablg'v mounted Within the said endi'w'all' 2, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing-4.

.Thetube 145 inline' with the slots at the catchers position extends through verticallyza-li ningpslots 22 formedin the arms of ayoke 23'. This yoke 23 is connected to one end, of: a lever 2 1*- that is. pivoted between itsv ends upon a bracket 25 carried by the'adja ent end wall 2: and the lever extends through a. slot 26 in the end wall andz terminatesinwa finger piece 27*.v

In the presentinstance, the tubes 1%, the

' shaftsj16, arms 17 and the: rods 20 and 21 constitute an operating mechanism for the "player, and owing to: the arrangement of the slots it will be seen that these figures are properly positioned with respect to the infield and outfield positions on the board. 3.

By pulling the rods 21 motion is imparted through the connecting rods 20 and crank arms-19 to the shafts 16, thereby rocking the shafts, and in this rocking of the shafts: motion is imparted 'to the tubes 11 through the arms 17, thereby moving the tubes within the alining slots in the boards 3 and 4:1 to cause the figures to move about the playing field within the confines of the slots.

Arranged within the alini ug diamondshaped slots 6 adjacent to: each base position and adjacent to: the home plate posi tion is a pair of tubes 29 having" their ends arranged within the respective diamondshaped slots and formed with collarsv 30 at the inncn sides; of the-boards an d 4, in order to hold the tubes within the alini ng diamond-shaped slots;

trated in Figure 111 of the drawings. These U-shaped carriers 32 have their inter-con necti'n'gportions formed with shanks 33. These shanks: fit intosocket members 34 that are formed in the respective sides of a vertical sleeve 35 that surroundsthe tube '5 and This is arranged avially of such tube.

sleeve 35 is formed with a depending aX ial hollow shaft 36 that extends below the'boar'd 4 and encircles the tube 7. On the lower endofthe hollow shaft 36 is a beveled gear 37, that meshes with a pinion: 38' fixed upon in the rotation of the shaft 39 motion is transmitted throughthe pinions=38 and gear 37 to the sleeve 35, thereby, revolving the sleeve 35 and carrying the U shaped'carriers 32 around with the sleeve 35. Those carrier-s32 are spaced equaldistancesaround the sleeve 35, so as tomaintain'the pairs of tubes 29 spaced apart equal distances and: in the rotation of the carriers asjust described the tubes 29 travel around the diamond-shaped slots 6, sothat the tubes inay be advanced from one base to another. The upper ends of the tubes 29 are formed in such manner as to detachably receive studs on the lower ends offigures-representingbase runners, and owing to the slots 31 in the carriers 32 it will be seentha't' as the carriers rotate about the axis of the sleeve 35 the tubes may travel properly within the diamond-shaped slots. My purpose in. employing two tubes at eacln position is to enable the player to; place. the fig- Eaclr pair of? tubes 29 extends through a li ni-ng" slots 31 formed in Usha-ped carriers 32 that are clearly il lusure representing the batter in a position to represent aleft-handed hitter or a right: handed, hitter, as may be desired. It will be seen that as the crank 40 is turned to re volve the shaft'39 the carriers will be ro-.

tated to advance a player from the home plate to first base, and from first base to second base and so on until the circuit of the infield is completed by therunner.

.At the center of the infield depicted on the board 3 is a figure 41 thatrepresents a pitcher. This figure is mounted onthe up per endfof the vertical tube 7 and is constructed to provide a throwing arm 42, clearly illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings. This throwing arm 42 is adapted for swinging movement and extending through the vertical tube 7 and into the body of the Figure 41 is a rod 43. The upper end of,

o zontal rod 46 that extends through the end ward the catcher.

Wall 2 through which the shaft 39 and: rods 21 project.

47, and encircling the rod between the collar and the adjacent end wall is a spring 48 that ,acts to hold the rod 46 in normal position and to restore the sameto such position after the rod has been operated. When the rod 46 is pulled against the action of the spring 48 a pull is exerted upon the rod 43 through the medium of the bell crank lever 45, and in this movement of the rod'43 the arm 42 is swung rearwardly, as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, so that a miniature baseball may be placed in the hands of the pitcher Upon the release of the rod 46 the spring 48 reacts and swings the arm 42, so that the arm 42 may throw the ball to- Arranged behind the home plate position and in front of the catcher are vertical shafts 49 having their upper ends angular in cross section and arranged in openings 50 formed in the board 3. The lower ends of these shafts 49 terminate in inwardly extendingarms 5151 clearly illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings, and these arms 51-51 fit between the pins 52 carriedby lateral extensions 53 on the rod 46. Interchangeably associated with the upper ends of the shafts 49 is a socket 54 formed with an upstanding shank 55 and on the up per end of the shank 55 and at right angles thereto is a bat 56. The socket 54 may be connected to either shaft 49 depending upon whether the player wants the figure representing the batter to assume a left hand batting position or a right hand batting po- Fixed to the rod 46 is a collar sition. As the lower ends of the shafts 49 are connected with the rod 46 these shafts will be, operated simultaneously with the rod and upon the pull of the rod against the action of the spring 48 the bat is thrown rearwardly, while when'the rod is released and the spring reacts the bat swings forwardlyto intercept the ball on its way to the catcher and so hit the ball toward one of If desired, the top of the board3 representing the playing field may be marked off to indicate foul lines, as at 57, and may also be formed with cross markings 58,59, and 61 to indicate, respectively, a hunt, out, two base hit and home run.

The rules governing the playing of the game may be made up between the players and the markings on the field may be used to indicate any desired values in base hits, put outs, etc.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided,

a mechanical baseball game wherein the ball may be thrown toward the bat and the bat operated simultaneously with the release of the ball by the figure representing the pitcher to intercept the ball, and so hit the same toward one of the fielders. It is conceivable, of course, that in the practice of my invention the construction of the bat operating mechanism, the throwing mechanism and the mechanism for shifting the positions of the figures representing thev players may be modified or changed within the scope of the claims. a

I have entered'into a detailed description of the construction and relative arrangement of parts embraced in the present and preferred embodiment of my invention with a view to imparting a full, clear and exact understanding of the said embodiment. I do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myself to the said specific con struction and relative arrangement of parts, inasmuch as in the future practice of my invention such changes or modifications may be made as fairly fall within the scope of my invention as defined by my appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is y 1. A game apparatus including a pair of parallel spaced boards having registering slots provided therein, a tube passing through the slots and provided with collars bearing against the aifronting faces of the board to prevent the tubes from moving transversely through the slots, and means for moving the tubes longitudinally of the slots, a figure, a base pin on the figure adapted to be inserted in one end of the tube for movement on one of the boards.

2. A game apparatus including a pair of parallel spaced boards having registering slots provided therein, a si'iat't journaledhe tween the boards, means connected with the shaft for turning the same, slotted" arms connected with-theshaft and disposed transversely with relation to the slots in the boards, a. tube passing through the slots-in inthe arms and having its ends projected through the slots in the boards, collars on the tubes engaging thezdfronting faces of the boards, and a figure having a base pin disposed in one end of the tube.

3. A game apparatus including a board, a-figure on the board an arm rotatable on the figure a second arrn'within the figure for operation of the first-awn, a pitinan rod connected with the second arn) and extend ing througl'i the figure and through the board, a bellerank lever mounted below the board and eonnectedwvith thepitman, and means for actuatingthe bell crank lever for operation of the firshmentioned arm, said first mentioned arm being provided with a hand for reeeiving a ball to be thrown upon operation thereof. T

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MQNALL. 

